Manipur: Mirabai Chanu finishes 3rd in IWF World Cup 2024, qualifies for Paris Olympics

Guwahati: In a major boost after a major injury layoff, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Mirabai Chanu finished third in the women’s 49kg group B event of the IWF World Cup and has all but qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics Games.

Chanu returned after a six-month-long injury layoff and showcased her resilience by lifting a total of 184kg (81kg snatch + 103kg clean and jerk), which is the final and mandatory qualifier event for the Paris Olympics.

However, the official announcement for the qualification will come after the conclusion of the World Cup when the Olympic Qualification Ranking (OQR) will be updated.

After the competition, Chanu said, “It feels incredible to come back after an injury. Almost every lift I made today felt clean, clear, and powerful, and I'm leaving this competition feeling strong and confident. The rehabilitation was tough and demanding, but with the support of everyone involved in my rehab and recovery, I pushed through all the complications.”

The weightlifter added, “The journey to get here required relentless dedication and hard work, and I couldn't be happier being back on the ramp - lifting and competing for my country.”